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ARTIFACTS

Coyoterina, from Cruz Ortiz' new series, "Devils and Coyotes," currently on exhibit at Jai

news and notes from the san antonio art scene

When it comes to art shows this month, sheer quantity should not be considered a qualitative factor. In other words, just because there are 50 million shows a night, that doesn't mean you are obligated to make an appearance at each and every one. Be selective - pace yourself. Choose quality over quantity, and you might actually walk away from Contemporary Art Month with more then just a savage sunburn.

On Thursday, July 3, your best bets are artists receptions at "little galleries that could" - those artist-run jewels tucked neatly away in the recesses of the Blue Star Art Complex, such as the Cactus Bra, RC Gallery, and San Angel Folk Art - spaces too often overlooked or too crowded to enter on First Fridays. These intimate spaces will be infinitely easier to enjoy on a Thursday, sans hordes of people and with plenty of free parking. First, check out "Pith and Polish," new work by Frank Magnotta of NYC and Michele Weinberg of Miami, Florida, at the RC Gallery; then head over to Cactus Bra for Hills Snyder's mysterious "Son of Samson" exhibit at 8:30 p.m. Make your way over to Three Walls at Studio 106D Blue Star, Building B for the monstrously talented video installation artist Guy Hundere's latest opus, "Mass." Finally, join Chris Ake, co-owner of the RC Gallery and Recycled Works, at the reception for "The Many Faces of Eve" at San Angel Folk Art. Ake's labor-intensive tin mosaics - culled from colorful olive oil and obscure Asian candy tins - swirl into postmillennial representations of the iconic Eve.

First Friday at the Complex also promises to be a culturally valuable enterprise, especially the high-profile "Blue Star 18" show curated by Terrie Sulton, current director of the Blaffer Gallery at the University of Houston, and UTSA Satellite Space's "4-N2-3D," with new sculptures by Jennifer Agricola, Tom Hollenback, Joe Johnson, and Kevin Rutherford. Non-institutional best bets include painter Ben Mata in Studio 106B and Mister Danny Geisler's 2nd annual, one-night-only Peep Show. Just follow the signs ... shrieks, guffaws, and horrified stares included.

Lastly - for rumor mill clarification purposes only - apparently it is NOT the actual owner of Blue Star who has a problem with live music on First Fridays, but a complex (ha ha) tenant. Sorry, dude. I believed the hype. •